Processes and compositions for ensiling hydroponically grown cellulosic materials

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for ensiling hydroponically grown cellulosic material is disclosed. A grower system for growing plants and crops provides an aerobic environment by controlling a plurality of environmental factors that decrease environmental stresses surrounding the plants or crops. The decrease in environmental stresses increases hydrolytic enzyme activity and releases additional hydrolytic enzymes. The hydrolytic enzymes breakdown a plurality of complex storage molecules of the plant or crop into simple storage molecules. The breakdown of the plurality of complex storage molecules increases the nutrient availability and dry matter of the ensiled cellulosic material as well as the shelf life of the ensiled cellulosic material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for ensiling hydroponically grown cellulosic material, the method comprising:
 increasing the amount of gibberellic acid of a plurality of seeds on a seed bed of a grower system, wherein the grower system is configured to control a plurality of environmental factors;   releasing at least two types of enzymes within at least one seed of the plurality of seeds, wherein the at least two types of the enzymes are released by the increase in the amount of gibberellic acid;   breaking down a plurality of complex storage molecules into a plurality of simple molecules within the at least one seed by at least one enzyme of the at least two enzymes;   growing the at least one seed to maturity as cellulosic material, wherein enzyme activity of the animal feed is maximized by the breakdown of the plurality of complex storage molecules;   harvesting the plurality of seeds from the seed bed;   ensiling the cellulosic material; wherein the enzyme activity decreases protein breakdown during ensiling.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the complex storage molecules comprise cellulose and wherein the plurality of simple molecules comprise hemicellulose. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of simple molecules comprises simple sugars and wherein the simple sugars are utilized as an energy source by lactic acid bacteria during the ensiling step. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a duration of the aerobic phase is shortened by the maximizing enzyme activity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two types of enzymes break down carbohydrates elevating simple sugar levels in the cellulosic material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one enzyme of the at least two enzymes comprises proteases. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one enzyme increases dry matter of the cellulosic material. 
     
     
         8 . A method for ensiling hydroponically grown animal feed, the method comprising:
 providing an aerobic environment utilizing a grower system configured to control a plurality of environmental factors;   increasing oxygen supply to the plurality of seeds;   irrigating the plurality of seeds with a liquid;   breaking down a plurality of complex storage molecules into a plurality of simple molecules within the plurality of seeds by hydrolysis;   producing adenosine triphosphate utilizing the plurality of simple sugars;   growing the at least one seed into animal feed, wherein protein breakdown of the animal feed is increased by the production of adenosine triphosphate; and   ensiling the animal feed.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid comprises at least one reactive oxygen species and wherein the at least one reactive oxygen species increases enzyme activity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of complex storage molecules comprise carbohydrates and wherein the simple storage molecules comprise simple sugars and wherein the simple sugars provide energy to lactic acid bacteria during the ensiling step. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the aerobic environment increases gibberellic acid and wherein the gibberellic acid increases the breakdown of the plurality of complex storage molecules. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 releasing at least two types of enzymes within at least one seed of the plurality of seeds, wherein the at least two types of the enzymes are released by the increase in the amount of gibberellic acid.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein lactic acid bacteria utilize simple molecules during the ensiling step as an energy source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the breakdown of complex storage molecules decreases dry matter shrinkage during the ensiling step. 
     
     
         15 . An ensiling system for ensiling hydroponically grown animal feed, the system comprising:
 a grower system further comprising:
 a seed bed operably supported by a framework and disposed across a length and width of the framework having a first side opposing a second side and a first terminal end opposing a second terminal end, wherein the seed bed is configured to house a plurality of seeds and grow the seeds into maturity as animal feed; 
 a control system for controlling a plurality of environmental factors of the seed bed, wherein the plurality of environmental factors provide an aerobic environment for growing the plurality of seeds, wherein the plurality of environmental factors comprise oxygen and water;
 wherein the aerobic environment increases gibberellic activity within the plurality of seeds; 
 wherein at least two types of enzymes within at least one seed of the plurality of seeds are released, wherein the at least two types of the enzymes are released by the increase in the amount of gibberellic acid; 
 wherein a plurality of complex storage molecules are broken down into a plurality of simple molecules within the at least one seed by at least one enzyme of the at least two enzymes; 
 
 a harvesting mechanism for removing the animal feed from the seed bed; and 
 an ensiling apparatus for fermenting the plant and storing the plant, wherein lactic acid bacteria utilize the plurality of simple molecules during fermentation. 
   
     
     
         16 . The ensiling system of  claim 15 , wherein the breakdown of complex storage molecules decreases dry matter shrinkage during fermentation. 
     
     
         17 . The ensiling system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of environmental factors further comprises temperature and light. 
     
     
         18 . The ensiling system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of complex storage molecules comprise carbohydrates and wherein the simple storage molecules comprise simple sugars and wherein the simple sugars provide energy to lactic acid bacteria during fermentation. 
     
     
         19 . The ensiling system of  claim 15 , wherein the complex storage molecules comprise cellulose and wherein the plurality of simple molecules comprise hemicellulose. 
     
     
         20 . The ensiling system of  claim 15 , wherein the increase in enzyme activity increases a duration of a storage phase during fermentation.